The decline of the Feudal system and new weapon technology
led to the decline of the English castle. The Medieval
feudal system was headed by the King who ruled England with
the backing of the great Nobles and Lords. The Feudal system
demanded that each noble showed allegiance by fighting for
the King and providing:
-
Trained soldiers
to fight for the King
-
Equipment - clothes and weapons - for the soldiers
This led to the monarchy
being threatened by powerful nobles. This led to the emergence of men
like Warwick the Kingmaker and the War of the Roses. John Dudley was
also a powerful noble and attempted to place Lady Jane Grey on the
throne of England. From Queen Elizabeth's perspective the last thing she
wanted were wealthy nobles building massive power bases - Elizabethan
castles. The development of fire arms and canon made castles a far
easier target - they could be easily destroyed. The castle was therefore
replaced with the 'Palace', a large or splendid residence.
The development of
English castle architecture was as follows:
The homes of the wealthy were
therefore becoming more comfortable. Problem. Time had moved on to the
Tudor era and the English were very nervous of the possibility of
another French or even Spanish Invasion. England needed more defence. So
Tudor Coastal Forts were introduced.
The development of English castle architecture was
as follows:
-
The Wooden Motte
and Bailey Medieval Castles built by the Normans
-
The Romanesque
Architecture which featured in the great stone castles of
the Normans which featured the Stone Keeps
-
The massive
Concentric Castles built by Edward I
-
The changes to
Medieval Castles with the emergence of Gothic Architecture
-
The Coastal
forts built by King Henry VIII and his son, Edward VI
-
The palatial
luxury of the Elizabethan 'Castles' now referred to as
mansions or palaces
The history of castles is
linked to several major factors:
-
The development
of new technology and building methods
-
The development
of warfare and new weapons
-
Social and
cultural changes
-
Defensive and
Offensive requirements
-
Symbolic or
political reasons for a castle location
Architecture of
Elizabethan 'Castles '
The Renaissance style of Elizabethan architecture had shifted from the
pointed, ornate Gothic style to the plainer Renaissance style which was
symmetrical. The symmetry was displayed in both the architecture and the
gardens. The emphasis was placed on a horizontal rather than vertical
line.
The crenellations which featured in medieval castles were no longer
included for practical defensive or offensive reasons in Elizabethan
architecture. Elizabethan mansions emphasised luxury and
comfort - not power and dominance. Artificial crenellations purely for
show were allowed to be built in private houses, but only with the
permission of the reigning monarch.
Elizabethan Architecture
- Elizabethan mansions - Hardwick Hall
Upper Class houses of the wealthy followed a similar renaissance style
of Elizabethan architecture. Stone and expensive bricks were used for
durability and appearance. Classic Greek and Roman architecture was admired by the
Elizabethans and sometimes great columns framed the entrances of many
great Elizabethan houses and mansions. One of the most impressive houses,
or mansions, built during
the Elizabethan era which made use of such columns was was the
magnificent Hardwick Hall. This great, palatial building was built by
the Countess of Shrewsbury, known as Bess of Hardwick (1527 - 1608).
Bess was
the second most powerful woman in England, next to Queen Elizabeth.
Hardwick Hall was truly magnificent, four storeys tall with prolific
plaster work. One of its major features was many glass windows. The
windows created such a wonderful sight that they were immortalised in
and old English Rhyme:
'Hardwick Hall - more
glass than wall'
Another great house built
during the Elizabethan era between 1555 and 1587 was Burghley House
which was built for Sir William Cecil (Lord Burghley).